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water in an outdoor JB and effect on SWA glanded in on the lower edge

psychicwarrior

Outdoor electrics tripping out and located to a JB (above ground) with water in it  (not clear if its condensation [seemed a lot for that] or a failed stuffing gland on the top edge - favour the latter)

Box emptied and dried out.  however,  the outdoor SWA glands on the bottom edge were obviously soaked and water must have seeped down the 3-core (one as cpc) cable (which goes underground).  Armour tied to cpc at both ends.

Just curious on other folks experiences on whether cables ever dry out (to some / any extent)  and whether will perform fine for lifetime  ?

thank you

 

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    The only cable types that survive this unaffected are the ones that have wax or petroleum jelly  pressure filled into the voids between the cores at manufacture - and that is not normal SWA in the UK . If not you should assume it will have got wet pretty much all the way along, and will remain wet more or less for ever, whatever you do with tissues or gentle heating, unless it is very recent ingress.

    So run the normal tests, with attention to insulation and armour continuity in particular, and mark up a relatively short duration to next inspection - if the water has been running down inside the cable for a few years it may well be pretty much ‘lifed’. If the water coming out is brown, the armour wire galvanising has been removed and it is eating into the steel already.

    The current rating may be slightly enhanced, thought you will know if it boils.

    Mike.

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  • 0

    The only cable types that survive this unaffected are the ones that have wax or petroleum jelly  pressure filled into the voids between the cores at manufacture - and that is not normal SWA in the UK . If not you should assume it will have got wet pretty much all the way along, and will remain wet more or less for ever, whatever you do with tissues or gentle heating, unless it is very recent ingress.

    So run the normal tests, with attention to insulation and armour continuity in particular, and mark up a relatively short duration to next inspection - if the water has been running down inside the cable for a few years it may well be pretty much ‘lifed’. If the water coming out is brown, the armour wire galvanising has been removed and it is eating into the steel already.

    The current rating may be slightly enhanced, thought you will know if it boils.

    Mike.

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